SC asked to extend listing of SK voters

Claiming that the Commission on Elections violated the law, several youth groups asked the Supreme Court yesterday to extend the registration of voters in the coming Sangguniang Kabataan election for another 15 days.

In a petition, the groups said that the two-week registration of voters ordered by the Comelec violated Republic Act No. 10742, the SK Reform Act, which provides for 30 days.

Resolution No. 10151 of the Comelec set the registration for 16 days which ended last July 30.

The groups pointed out that under Section 31 of RA 10151, voters’ registration in the SK election “shall in no case be less than one month and shall include Saturdays and Sundays.”

“Clearly, therefore, the Comelec acted within its power to set the start of the special registration on July 15, 2016. However, it is also clear that the Comelec acted beyond its power when it set the last day of the special registration on July 30, 2016. The period from July 15 to July 30 is inclusive of 16 calendar days, half of the minimum period mandated by Section 31,” their petition stated. (Rey G. Panaligan)